PetroVietnam production in 2000


PARTY AND STATE APPRECIATE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY'S ACHIEVEMENTS


Ha Noi, Jan. 17 (VNA) -- The State highly valued the achievements recorded by the oil and gas industry, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Manh Cam.

Mr. Cam praised the results of the industry's operations at a conference held by the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Corporation (PetroVietnam) in Ha Noi on Jan. 16 to launch the industry's tasks in 2001.

He said that although the oil and gas industry is young, it has registered strong growth over the past 25 years.

However, he added, PetroVietnam's potential is modest in comparison to foreign oil and gas companies, especially trans-national corporations.

The Deputy PM called for more efforts from the corporation to develop comprehensively. He laid stress on higher efficiency in exploring and exploiting oil and gas, processing and trading in oil and gas products, and carrying out major projects. The industry must bring into full play its internal strength while striving to match advanced international oil and gas organizations, Mr. Cam noted.

He took this opportunity to present the "Labour Hero" title to former PetroVietnam Director General Ngo Thuong San and Director General of the Viet Nam-Russia Joint Venture Enterprise (Vietsovpetro) Nguyen Giao.

PetroVietnam plans to pump 18.4 million tonnes in crude oil equivalent, including 16.7 million tonnes of crude oil and 1.7 billion cubic metres of gas, this year. It expects to earn VND 45,087 billion (roughly USD 3.1 billion) and remit half of the sum to the State budget.

Last year, PetroVietnam tapped 16.2 million tonnes of crude oil, 690,000 tonnes more than 1999, and earned nearly USD 3.5 billion from exports of 15.4 million tonnes of crude oil, a year-on-year increase of 540,000 tonnes.

The corporation brought ashore 1.58 billion cu.m of gas in 2000, a 5 percent increase compared to the yearly plan. It turned over VND 51,400 billion and remitted VND 26,000 billion to the State budget.--VNA